The slogan says it all... "No pedigree? No Problem." Each year, Niles Community Park is filled with more bark than bite when dogs bring their human companions as spectators as they demonstrate their talents and even try to dress their companions in similar garb.

A fun-filled Saturday afternoon - July 17 - will determine the best, prettiest and most handsome dogs of the land. When not competing, dogs can roam about in a doggie water park, agility course and wander through a doggie vendor village.

Each year, the competition gets tougher as more mutts, mixed breeds and purebreds mingle at this annual gathering. In its twelfth year, this venerable show has proven that size or breeding make no difference when the Niles Dog Show comes to town! All are welcome, even two-legged spectators.

On-site Registration starts at 9 a.m. and the show begins at 10 a.m. Competitors and spectators will have the opportunity to learn about temperament, care, health, grooming, history and dogs in community service.

Spectator admission is free. Show participants must register and pay an entry fee of $20 the day of the show which includes a goodie bag and entry in one class. There is a $5 fee to join additional classes. Pre-registration is recommended, and pre-paid entries receive a $5 discount. Participants may pre-register online at ww.niles.org/dogshow.html. Scholarships are available. Only the first 200 Dogs will be admitted to the show.

Purebred dogs are welcome, but the emphasis is on companion animals that make good family pets. Champions in each class will be awarded a neck streamer. Rosettes will be awarded for 2nd through 6th places in every class.

Sponsored by the Florence Bar and Grill, the hay bale arena will be the site of spirited competition between dogs of any breed to find: Best Costume, Best Veteran, Junior Handler (kids 12u -new class this year!), Prettiest Female, Handsomest Male, Most Unusual Mix and Best Performer. Blue Ribbon winners from each class are eligible to compete in the Best in Show class for champion and reserve champion awards.

In the costume class, previous winners have included dogs Liberty & Lacy who appeared as a horse and rider; A's fan, Truman; Mickey who was every bit a sailor; a precocious bumblebee called Groovy Girl; Ziggy in Tartan, and Kyle who did a great impression of a personal computer. In Best Performer, Jesse and Chandler did wonderful tricks at the direction of their owner, Dawn. Ginney, Sadie, Scully, Daisy, and Monkey were also crowd favorites.

Three special awards will be presented at this year's show to:

Corporal Jonathan MelbourneAn Irvington High Graduate who enlisted in the Marines out of high school. He became a dog handler with a K-9 unit, whose animals are trained to sniff out roadside bombs for Marines to safely diffuse. On May 6, less than a month after being deployed to Afghanistan, Melbourne's black Labrador, Tara, set off a bomb. The explosion killed the dog instantly and left Melbourne, a Marine corporal, with a broken chin, missing teeth, no right eye and wounds to his face and arm

The Niles Main Street Association & Niles Dog Show Committee honor Corporal Jonathan Melbourne and Tara's sacrifice. We encourage donations to help Jonathan and his family who joined him at the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, MD. Contributions, payable to Jonathan Melbourne Donation Fund #5944632909, can be made at any Wells Fargo Bank branch.

Pilots 'N PawsA group of pilots that donate their time, planes and costs to rescue dogs trapped in bad situations. Cindy Smith, a pilot, will receive the award on behalf of Pilots 'N Paws.

Janette AndersonThis 77-year-old Fremont resident helped reunite Lola, a lost Chihuahua, living in the yard of a vacant home from mid-December to late-April, with her 18-year-old owner, Andre Romero from Redwood City.

This year's show will feature pure and mixed breed adoption showcases and an adoption parade in which rescue organizations will show dogs available for adoption. Prospective dog owners can learn about various breeds and individual dogs available for adoption.

Organizations who will be represented at the show include: Big Dawgs Rescue, Furry Friends Rescue, German Shepherd Rescue of Northern California, Golden Gate Bassett, NorSled Northern California Sled Dog Rescue, Ohlone Humane Society, and Tri-City Animal Shelter. The Tri-City Animal Shelter will bring their Mobile Adoption Center, a 33-foot recreational vehicle that doubles as a mini-clinic and an adoption center.

The 12th annual Niles Dog Show is proudly produced this year by Niles Main Street Association with the help of: Ohlone Humane Society, Alameda County Water District, City of Fremont and East Bay Regional Parks.